KAZEY JOURNAL

Thanks to yahoo, that bought over Konfabulator, in what i would call a strategic aquisition, to boost their popularity. But does yahoo really need to make it free? I would say yes, people love free stuff. And once you are attached to it too, they would love you automatically. What happens to stylexp etc. That means my desktop is gonna look, better. I would post the new look, after i am through with it.

Source : ZDNET

Yahoo has acquired software “widget” engine Konfabulator in a move to spur third-party developers to devise new applications for the Internet giant’s services.

Konfabulator is a JavaScript runtime engine that lets people run very small applications, or widgets, on either Windows or Macintosh systems. Konfabulator is owned by parent company Pixoria, a Palo Alto, Calif.-based start-up founded in 2003.

Yahoo plans to run the widgets via XML feeds. The applications can perform any of a range of functions, from informing people of their Wi-Fi signal strength to dishing up the local weather to providing a battery monitor, according to a notice posted on Konfabulator’s Web site.

“When we first thought of Konfabulator, one of the key pieces was accessing Internet content. Well guess what Yahoo has boatloads of?” Konfabulator said on its site. “And what’s really great is that they’re starting to open it up to everyone in a format that’s useable outside the traditional browser, as XML feeds.”

According to Konfabulator, the acquisition also marks the formal launch of Yahoo’s Developer Network.

“Since we’re kick-starting Yahoo’s Developer Network, this means our current Konfabulator community will become the founding members of Yahoo’s Developer community,” according to a posting on Konfabulator’s site.

A Yahoo representative said that the company had a developer network prior to its Pixoria acquisition, but that with this deal, Yahoo plans to formalize its relationship with developers.

Konfabulator, which had charged rates from $19.95 for a single user license to $2,500 for a worldwide site license, said that its service will now be free and that it will refund purchases of its version 2.0 or later.

Stay free and blessed yahoo. And I love widgets. Yes I do.